MLB

[CANADIENS27]

Detroit improves its ability to score in the late innings with four runs in the seventh and three in eighth to take a 7-1 win over Minnesota. Torii Hunter drove in the go ahead runs after a two out rally in the seventh with a double that right fielder Chris Herman failed to track down. MIguel Cabrera was intentionally walked and Hunter would score from second on a passed ball by catcher Ryan Doumit when losing pitcher Kevin Correia failed to cover home plate. An RBI double by Victor Matinez brought home the fourth run of the inning.

In the eighth, Twins second baseman Brian Dozier booted a ground ball loading the bases and Cabrera unloaded them by nailing a slider down the left field line. Minnesota got its only run in the seventh after a two out walk, a steal of second, and an RBI single. Drew Smyly got the win in relief of Anibal Sanchez with one inning of perfect relief, but would allow another stolen base, the 16th straight Detroit has allowed, the longest active streak in the majors according to STATS LLC.

[CANADIENS27]

Justin Verlander continues to struggle with location, getting too many pitches up and over the middle of the plate in a 7-6 loss to Minnesota - one of them a hanging curveball to Ryan Doumit that sailed over the right centerfield video board with two on in the fifth. Austin Jackson would get Verlander off the hook by hammering a curveball into the left seats with two on in the sixth to cap a four run rally that tied the game at 6-6. Minnesota got the winning run in the eighth on an RBI double by Chris Herrman on a slider up in the strike zone and a ball that fooled Austin Jackson.

Detroit missed some opportunities. One in the second when Prince Fielder tried to stretch a single into a double despite the fact that Clete Thomas had cutoff the relay throw from left-center. Thomas threw to second baseman Brian Dozier, who tried to make a quick tag only to find Fielder was still 20 feet from second. Victor Martinez would hit into a game ending doubleplay.

[CANADIENS27]

Home runs by Torii Hunter on an 0-2 fastball at the letters, Miguel Cabrera on a belt high fastball, and Austin Jackson lead Detroit to a 6-1 win over the New York Mets. Hunter's and Cabrera's homers came off starter Daisuke Matsuzaka who settled down and retired the last 10 hitters he faced before being lifted for a pinchhitter. Jackson's homer came in the seventh on slider over the plate from reoiever Carlos Torres. Doug Fister pitched 6 1/3 innings giving up one run on eight hits. Fister got behind in the count a few times, especially in the fourth inning, but made pitches when he needed to and was helped out by two double plays.

[CANADIENS27]

Max Scherzer combines with three relievers to shut out the New York Mets 3-0. Scherzer went six innings allowing three hits, but walked four while struggling over his last two innings. He did, however, help his own cause with an RBI double in the second. There's no designated hitter in interleague play.

Detroit would miss some opportunities most notabley in the seventh when Omar Infante was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a single to left by Prince Fielder. Infante, not known for foot speed basically had no chance. Fielder would get hung up between second and third when Miguel Cabrera stopped at third on a single by Matt Tuiasosopo, but the Mets didn't see Fielder. Detroit left the bases loaded and would load the bases again in the ninth but could only get a sacrifice fly by Don Kelly.

[CANADIENS27]

Scherzer runs his record to 19-1 to join Rube Marquard in 1912 and Roger Clemens in 2000 as the only major league to start 19-1 in a season. His RBI double came when he was actually didn't realize the bunt sign was still on.

[CANADIENS27]

Detroit breaks open a close game in the late innings, for once, with seven runs in the ninth inning for an 11-3 win over the New York Mets. The inning featured seven singles, one walk, two wild pitches, and a sacrifice fly and eight straight batters reaching. It also marked at least a brief transition from the Mets to the New York Mutts. Detroit also got home runs from Miguel Cabrera on a down and in fastball that was launched into the second deck and Andy Dirks on a slider that was over the plate and launched into the Mets' bullpen.

Rick Porcello pitched six innings allowing three runs on four hits, two on Travis d'Arnaud on a fastball that gave the Mets a 3-2 lead before Dirks' homer gave Detroit the lead back.

[CANADIENS27]

Bad location by starter Anibal Sanchez leads to an 8-6 loss To Oakland. Sanchez pitched five innings allowing four runs on five hits, including a solo shot to Coco Crisp on a high curveball. The loss would go to reliever Jose Alverez who surrendered a 4-3 lead allowing three straight singles to start the sixth. The bullpen allowed two more runs and home runs by Miguel Cabrera, Omar Infante, and Victor Martinez would not be enough to offset Detroit's lack of pitching.

[CANADIENS27]

Continued bad pitch location by Justin Verlander at inopportune moments and failure to finish off hitters give Oakland a 6-3 win over Detroit in game called after six innings because of rain. At least three hitters reached base after getting two strikes, two in the first inning. Verlander allowed three runs in the first inning before anyone was out. In all, he allowed five runs on four hits and three walks, but three of them drove in runs and three of those who scored were the result of walks and would need 44 pitches to get out of the first inning, the most in his career.

[CANADIENS27]

Detroit's starting pitching continues to take a pounding in a 14-4 pasting by Oakland. Doug Fister took the loss going five innings allowing seven runs on 13 hits, both season highs. The bullpen didn't fare any better with Jose Alverez allowing five runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings. Last night, Oakland got a season high 21 hits and won this series by a combined 28-13. It raises concerns about the Tigers' ability to stop top flight teams.

[CANADIENS27]

Torii Hunter's three run homer on a 1-1 belthigh hanging slider into the Oakland bullpen in leftcenter field give Detroit a 7-6 win over Oakland to avoid a four game sweep. The blast capped a four run ninth and brought the Tigers back from a 6-1 deficit. Grant

Balfour walked the first batter in the inning and gave up a two out walk. He was one strike away from closing it out when Victor Martinez muscled a fastball into centerfield to drive in the first run.

Oakland was, however, make Detroit's starters labor, particularly in the first inning. Max Scherzer pitched five innings in his worst outing since April, allowing six runs on eight hits, six for extra bases and two of them home runs on fastballs over the plate.

Luke Putkonen, Jose Veras, Joaquin Benoit shut down the A's to give Detroit a chance with Benoit getting the win in relief.

[CANADIENS27]

Rick Porcello pitches 5 2/3 innings allowing two runs on five hits and walking two in 7-2 rain shortened win over Cleveland. Porcello was helped out in the second inning by a game changing double play in the second. After singles put runners at first and third to start the inning, Anubal Cabrera drilled a ground toward left center that might have put runners at second and third with no one out with a run in. Jose Iglesias made a diving stop to start a double play that scored a run. The play saved at least another run.

Michael Bourn would not be so lucky misplaying a Victor Martinez fly ball in a four run third inning that landed 20 feet behind him that was ruled a double increasing Detroit's lead to 4-1. An additional scored on a bases loaded force out at third on which there was no other play.

Detroit increases its lead over Cleveland to 7 1/2 games in the AL Central the diference being its lopsided 14-3 season lead over the Indians.

[CANADIENS27]

Detroit sends Cleveland to its fifth straight defeat with a 10-5 win. Anibal Sanchez pitched 6 2/3 innings allowing three runs on six hits, one of them a solo homer to Yan Gomes in the seventh. Jose Veras allowed a two run inside the park home to Carlos Santana in the eighth when Austin Jackson tried to make a leaping grab of Santana's drive at the centerfield wall only to have the ball bounce off his glove when he crashed into the wall. Jackson remained in the game despite the fact he favored his glove arm.

Jackson would contribute a two run triple in the bottom half in a four run eighth as Detroit continued to improve its ability to score in the late innings. Omar Infante had two home runs for Detroit, both on sliders, the first a hanging slider. The Tigers were without Miguel Cabrera who has been hampered by an abdominal strain for over a month.

[CANADIENS27]

Cleveland pitching shuts down Detroit on 11 hits with Joe Smith getting the win in relief. Starter Danny Salazar went the first six innings allowing six hits and it appeared he might have been pulled too soon when the first two hitters in the seventh reached. Salazar had thrown only 77 pitches and Detroit wasn't able to do much with him. Cleveland was able to get out the inning without any damage done.

A bullpen meltdown by Joaquin Benoit would prove to be the diffence when he walked the first two batters in the ninth. A sacrifice bunt followed, then an intentional walk to Jason Kubel to load the bases. Benoit, however, unload them by throwing a curveball over the heart of the plate Mike Aviles who sent it into the leftcenterfield seats to provide an eventual 4-0 win.

Detroit would have one last chance in the bottom half, but after a double by Omar Infante, he was hit by a line drive by Alex Avila for the second out. Ramon Santiago would single, but after a passed ball, Andy Dirkds grounded out to end the game. Wasted was a good outing by Justin Verlander who pitched seven innings allowing four hits and two walks, both in the first inning.

[CANADIENS27]

Doug Fister overcomes early wildness to pitch seven innings allowing no runs on four hits and four walks, two in the first inning and combines with Phil Coke, Bruce Rondon, and Jose Veras to shutout Boston 3-0 in Boston. Detroit turned three double plays in the first, second, and fifth innings to bail Fister out. He would also get of out a two one no out situation in the seventh when Jarrod Saltalamcchia left a bunt attempt too close to home plate and Alex Avila was able to make the throw to third for a force out. The next two batters grounded out.

Detroit broke through in the seventh on a single by Victor Martinez and a triple by Andy Dirks. He would score on a double-play grounder.

[CANADIENS27]

Boston's Jon Lester outduels Max Scherzer who pitched seven innings allowing two runs on five hits in a 2-1 win over Detroit. The Red Sox scored in the fifth on a two run single by Will Middlebrooks. Detroit had a taken a 1-0 lead in the second on a double by Jose Iglesias and might have had more in the inning. Third base coach Tom Brookens for some unexplained reason, sent catcher Brayan Pena in and Pena was easily gunned out at the plate. Scherzer took his second loss, denying him a place in history with Roger Clemons who started the 2001 season with a 20-1 record.

Detroit would get runners on four of the first six innings against Lester, but would have difficulty with his curveball and slider which allowed Lester to work out of trouble.

[CANADIENS27]

Boston scores 17 unanswered runs to turn a 4-3 Detroit lead into an annihilation fit for General Custer in a 20-4 win. The good news was they didn't score the final 17 runs in one inning. Detroit served up 8 gopher balls to seven different hitters. David Ortiz went deep twice. Boston scored 8 times in the sixth inning, including a grand slam by Will Middlebrooks off reliever Al Alburquerque, and five more in the seventh.

Rick Porcello pitched 5+ innings allowing 9 runs, 8 of them earned, on seven hits, three of them home runs - all to lefthanded hitters who are hitting .309 against him this season - on pitches down and in, where lefthanders tend to like them. Alburquerque would surrender another home run which brings his total to 5 in his last 19 1/3 innings of work. Jeremy Bonderman and Evan Reed surrendered the othe three.

Despite last night's carngage, Detroit has still allowed a major league low 117 home runs.

[CANADIENS27]

Detroit starts a weekend series against Kansas City at Kaufman Stadium tonight at 8:10 P.M. Anibal Sanchez takes the hill for Detroit against Steve Shields.

[CANADIENS27]

Detroit still has a 6 1/2 game over Cleveland in the AL Central.

[CANADIENS27]

Detroit bats around in the second and fourth scoring five runs both times on their way to a 16-2 win over Kansas City. After the Royals reach Anibal Sanchez for a run in the first, Detroit would score the next 16 before they would score again the bottom of the ninth. The Tigers raked starter Steve Shields for 10 runs on 14 hits in 3 2/3 innings. It might have been worse, except Alex Avila shortcircuited a third inning rally by getting pick off third by the pitcher and the Tigers would fail to score. When was the last time that happened? The Royals' bullpen wasn't treated much better giving up an additional 6 runs on 12 hits.

Andy Dirks and Omar Infante both went five-for-five. Anibal Sanchez pitched seven innings shutting down Kansas City on one run and seven hits.

[CANADIENS27]

Justin Verlander takes the hill for Detroit against Danny Duffy for Kansas City.

[CANADIENS27]

Justin Verlander leaves a pitch over the plate to Salvador Perez in the sixth inning which was driven over the leftfield wall for two runs in a 4-2 Kansas City win. The Royals have won all five games aginst Verlander this sesaon. They would overcome wildness by starter Danny Duffy who walked five in 4 1/3 innings. Detroit would miss an opportunity in the fifth when they loaded the bases, but only got one run. Wade Davis got the win in relief for Kansas City while Verlander's record fell to 12-11.

[CANADIENS27]

Doug Fister leaves a fastball over the middle of the plate that Eric Hosmer hammered over the centerfield wall for three runs in the fifth inning enroute to a 5-2 Kansas City win over Detroit. The Tigers would get only five runs and six hits in the final two games of the series after steamrolling the Royals 16-2 Friday. They also followed a pattern of getting early leads only to have its offense stall out and then surrender go ahead home runs in the middle innings and were kept off balance yesterday by Bruce Chen who constantly changed speeds on his pitches and had Detroit out in front.

[CANADIENS27]

Detroit begins a three game series in Chicago against the White Sox tonight at 8:10 P.M. Max Scherzer makes his third attempt for his 20 win against Chris Sale for the White Sox.

[CANADIENS27]

Max Scherzer leaves too many pitches up an over the the plate in pitching only four innings in his earliest exit of the season allowing five runs on six hits with two walks. He also contributed a throwing error to allow a run to score. Detroit also continued its season long struggle against lefthanded starters as Chris Sale shut down the Tigers on one run and four hits over eight innings in a 5-1 White Sox win. Miguel Cabrera was ejected in the first inning for arguing a call and Jim Leyland followed him the clubhouse after less than a minute of arguing.

[CANADIENS27]

Cleveland moves to within 4 1/2 games of Detroit in the AL Central with a 4-3 win over Kansas City. Cleveland has actually outplayed the other teams in the division except Detroit.